RP Stories
Our Reach Potential Story
Reach Potential Movement (RPM) started in 2007 when a few friends began asking what would our world look like if we took seriously the opportunity to reach the potential God had given us in our families, at work and in our community. Before long, we were experiencing challenges to our own growth as well as formidable barriers to others reaching their potential. Our growing movement is full of stories of people who have overcome, considered others interests more important than their own and deepened friendships while reaching their potential.
Luther Burbank Middle School to Archbishop Mitty High School
The impossible is possible when catalysts and “impossible” situations collide. One of our board members (aka—RP Mover) teaches at Luther Burbank Middle School in San Jose. After seeing many of his brightest students transition to the local gang impacted high schools, he had an idea. A few weeks later, four of his students summoned their courage to be the first LBMS students to take the entrance exam for Archbishop Mitty High School, a highly renowned private school in San Jose. Though some people had their doubts, two of the students passed their first hurdle—the entrance exam.
But how can two students with little financial resources afford the tuition, school uniforms and books at a top private school? This RP Mover met with representatives of Archbishop Mitty to advocate for his students and the result? The two courageous students were informed that they received full academic scholarships to attend one of top college preparatory schools in Silicon Valley.
A Lunch Hour a Week Impacts Lives
Another RP Mover showed up at church one Sunday to find his pastor wearing an “Ask me why” nametag. Taking the bait, he asked “why” and heard some sobering facts about youth drop-out rates in the heart of Silicon Valley (approx. 40% for Hispanic and African-American youth) and decided to volunteer with others from his congregation.
After a few months of corporate sales by day and working with youth at a local middle school by night, he began to mentor a student expelled from the middle school. A few days later he began using his lunch hour to invest in several students at the school district’s continuation school. What he found were tough gang members on the outside and confused youth wanting acceptance on the inside.
From helping a twelve year old girl get dental work to replace missing front teeth to taking kids to SF 49er games, he now has the trust of these kids as they meet with him weekly for a peer support group… all over a lunch hour per week.
A Teacher Going it Alone, Energized by a Team Effort
A group of friends from a church decided to “adopt” an underserved classroom and partner with the teacher to support her students. 95% of this teacher’s 5th Grade students are language learners from low income families. Various “Movers” in this group of friends helped students in morning math club, they chaperoned field trips, planned holiday class parties, coordinated gift bags before the holidays with art supplies and a book, helped clean the class over Spring break, matched adult “pen pals” with each student to encourage writing practice, and more—doing whatever the teacher needed most in support.
The teacher explains: “This group has been an incredible resource for my students and me. This has been an incredibly powerful experience for all involved.” This partnership continues as the “Movers” enjoy the collaborative relationship with the teacher, and convey to these 5th grade students that though they may have obstacles to overcome, they have immense potential in their lives.
What’s Your Story?
Will you join us in finding your spark that gives life purpose and championing these sparks in others? We represent the rich diversity of our community and together we are seeing a movement that is transforming lives and communities.
